The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-04-07
HADDOCK's ASSASSIN.
John Arensdorf on Trial for the
Murder Of the Preacher.

John Arensdorf on Trial for the
Murder Of the Preacher.
Leavitt and "Bismarck" Turn States
Evidence and Swear They Saw Him
Fire tho Fatal shot-Other
Testimony.
THE SIOUX CITY TRAGEDY
Sioux CRY, Ia, March 29.-The follow.
ing is a synopsis of the testimony given
Monday by Harry L. Leavitt, who turned
States evidence in the Haddock trial: He
testified that he was present at q meeting
Of the saloon-keeper's organization, which
was attended by Arensdorf and others
when he heard George Trieber say he had
succeeded in getting two Dutchmen to
whip Haddock and Walker, if they were
paid. for it. Arensdorf said there were
800 or $500 in the treasury and that
ought to be sufficient. The door-keeper at
Leavitt's Theater was offered 500 to do it,
but he said he had a good job and didn't
want to lick anybody. Witness saw Had
dock as he came from the stable to the Co
lumbia House corner and started across
toward Dinen's corner; John Arensdorf
started toward him; after Haddock got
about ten feet from Dinen's corner witness
saw Arensdorf and Haddock meet; Arens-
dorf looked in Haddock's face; the latter
raised his hand Arensdort passed him one
step, turned aud fired; Haddock staggered
and fell; Arensdorf went straight ahead;
witness started to run in two or three sec
onds from the time of the shooting.
The witness showed how the shooting
took place. The description was just the
same as that given by Fitzsimons. Arens-
dorf stuck his face in front Of that of the
preachers. Arensdorf stepped to the side
and back Of him, and then whirled and
fired the fatal shot. On cross-examination
he admitted that his testimony before the
%coroner's jury was false, but that his con-
fession covered the truth.
SIouY CRY, March 30-In the Arens-
dorf trial one Of the most important
Koschnitzki, known as Bismarck"
= was introduced Tuesday. Witness
aid that on the day of the murder
he met George Treiber n went with him
into his (~Treiber's) saloon, after having
some talk. They then went to the court
house, where some whisky cases were be-
ing tried, Mr.. Haddock being a witness.
He and Treiber went away from the court
house, and when they got into Seventh
street Treiber pointed out Haddock's house.
The defense then began argument
against admitting his evidence, claiming
that evidence of conspiracy was not sufi-
GENTLY clear to allow of his testifying. The
Indictment did not charge conspiracy, and
as the defense had received no notice that
such was to be charged counsel were un-
prepared to disprove it. The arguments Of
the defense lasted long, n were directed
largely to showing that the indict.
ment, drawn as it was with a direct charge
Of murder, without an averment of a con-
spiracy to commit such crime, did not war
rant the addition of any testimony to show
that such a conspiracy had ~pre-existed-
After hearing all the arguments the court
decided that '.Bismarck's'' testimony would
be received. and court then adjourned.
Sioux CITY, Ia. March 3L.-Wednesday
was the most interesting and exciting day
Of the Haddock murder trial, and the court
room was jammed from the opening till
the closing hour. Occupying a front seat
was Mrs. Haddock, the widow of the muir
dered Clergyman. She was attired in
black and evidenced deep grief, and as ref
erence was frequently made to her late
husband her emotions could hardly be re-
strained. Bismarck continued his testi-
mony, a synopsis of which is here given:
He recited how George Treiber had induced
him to hunt up Granda and tell him if he would
whip the preacher and give him two black eyes
he would receive $500; how Mr.. Haddock's
house had been pointed out, and that Granda,
for fear of the large crowd that had assembled
at the courthouse, hesitated and finally weak
ened and refused to whip Haddock. Bismarck"
continued, thoroughly corfoborating Leavitt
and describing infinitely every movement Of
the conspirators on the fateful day which led
up to and followed the homicide. He gave
the movements of the conspirators, Piath
Treiber, Munchraih, Leavitt, Arensdorf, Peters,
Leader, Sherman, Granda and himself from
early in the evening, telling how he and Granda
/ went to the Columbia House to see il 1.-THE
priester'' had returned from Greenville, and
how the crowd came from Junk's saloon after
the buggy returned. The witness went on, fol
lowed the crowd through the d~rizzling rain and
dark down Fourth to Seventh street; their halt
at the corner, and described Haddock as
he appeared coming from the oppo-
Il site corner. He told how John Arensdorf
stepped from the crowd, met and passed sthe
priester," then whIrled and fred the leaden
| messenger of death. The illustration was most
dramatic, and q breathless silence attended
| the realistic description. Witness said Arens-
dorf, almost paralyzed with the enormity Of
his own act, was speechless and motion
less. For q moment he stood riveted to
the spot, but when Mr.. Haddock fell
and the gurgling Of death reached the
ears Of the assassin the spell was broken, and
Arnesdorf hurried in the direction Of the brew
cry, followed by Henry Peters, the ariver Of the
beer wagon. The retreat OF the conspirators
Vas told, as were also succeeding events. The
witness related all about how Arensdorf had
| given him, through Treiber, twelve dollars to
leave the country how he (Bismarck) had got
drunk, his wife having taken the money, and
how Arensdorf again approached him with the
words: why have you not left?
Did you get the money from Treiberf If you
remain here you will get drunk, tell what you
know, and then you will be sent to the p~eniten-
tiary. I have plenty of money, and they will
never send me to jail" The witness de-
scribes his being driven to Salix, where
Fritz Folger gave him more money
ninety-ive dollars) in the depot, after which he
went to San Francisco. When he came back to
this city he was shown a picture OF Harry
Leavitt and assured by the mayor Of Sioux
| City and the city marshal that it was a picture
of the man who they believed had done the
shooting. He told them it was not, and, though
they insisted, he emphatically told them then
and there that John Arensdorf was the muir.
| derer, The witness testimony was most
thorough and exact from beginning to end, and
Q rigid cro-ssexamination failed to cripple it in
the least. So far the State has made a wonder.
fully strong case.
During the afternoon and while "Bis-
marck'' was graphically describing the
murder Mrs. Haddock suddenly tainted.
She was carried into an ante-room and
re~storatives administered. She rallied
and again appeared in the room during the
afternoon.
Sioux CITY, Ia, April IAN immense
crowd was present at the Haddock muir
der trial yesterday. The first witness called
was Albert Koschnitski, Bismarck" He
acknowledged that he got drunk after the
shooting Of Haddock. The next witness
called was Minnie Koschnitski, twelve years
of age, a child innocent in every act. She
testified as to how John Arensdorf had
bought their home, how Pau Leader &C
~companied them to Omaha when they left,
and detailed q graphic account of how the
defendant had used his money in getting
them out of the country to join husband
and father in San Francisco. The cross
examination of the child was favorable to
the State, and at the conclusion Of her
testimony the State rested.
There is certainty that h State has
other witnesses and more important evil
| dopco hint fhay can Oot II in lator and